System for Releasing Binding Elements for Ski or Snowboard Boots and Similar

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for releasing the bindings of ski or snowboard boots and similar. The invention consists of an electronic transmitting device ( 1 ) which is equipped with a detector for detecting the release of a handgrip and which is housed in a handheld object. The invention also comprises an electronic receiving device ( 5 ) which can be housed in the bindings ( 6 ) of the ski boots, the snowboard and similar and which opens said bindings ( 6 ) in response to a command from the electronic transmitting device ( 1 ), said command being generated when the aforementioned handheld object is released.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention as expressed by the title of this descriptivereport refers to a system for releasing the binding elements of ski orsnowboard boots and similar whose essential objective is to provide asystem to reduce the number of injuries resulting from skiing andsimilar sports because it makes possible to open the bindings that keepthe boots locked onto the user regardless of the pressure or torqueexerted on the bindings and in that it can be activated voluntarily andinvoluntarily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that skiing, snowboarding and similar are sports that entaila great deal of risk and that the numerous injuries resulting from thepractice of said sports usually affect the locomotor apparatus and arecaused mainly by unexpected falls and loss of balance. Knee injuries areparticularly significant and in many cases there are instances of kneeligament trauma. The reason this occurs is because the torque created bythe length of the ski or the board secured by the boot bindingsdetermines these injuries. Currently there is no actively efficientsafety solution in the market for this problem, since although thestandard bindings are prepared to open in case of accident, the bindingsonly opens in some specific cases when they are forced by mechanicalmeans. Also, in the case of conventional mechanical opening means, theuser usually is confronted with the choice of having to fasten thebindings too loosely, so they can be unexpectedly released by the actualmotions of the user while practicing the sport, or tighten themexcessively so in case of accident or fall the bindings will not openand the user will sustain an injury as a result.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the stated objectives and avoid the disadvantagesmentioned in previous sections, the present invention comprises a systemto release the binding elements of ski or snowboard boots or similarapplicable elements used in the practice of these or similar sports,such as the handles of ski poles and snowboard and ski boot bindings.

The novelty of the present invention relies in that the system describedpresents an electronic transmitting device equipped with a detector fordetecting the release of a handgrip and which is housed in a handheldobject; as well as an electronic receiving device that may be located inthe bindings of the ski boots, snowboard and similar, and that carriesout the release of said bindings when receiving an order from theaforementioned electronic transmitting device, said order beingtriggered when the user releases the handgrip that holds the handheldobject and releases it.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said transmittingand receiving devices communicate by wireless technology, preferably byradio or infrared waves.

In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, saidhandheld object consists in either the handle of a ski pole or in aspecial actuator that is a sort of main body that is manually held andjoined by means of a cable or similar to a fastening wrist band orbracelet, so that the user can wear the wrist band or bracelet in his orher wrist and hold the main body in his or her hand without riskinglosing the object if it is released or escapes their grip.

The main advantage of the system object of the present invention residesin that the release of the ski boot bindings or similar occursindependently from the movements and mechanical pressures applied to thebindings, so the user that is wearing the system object of the inventionin the event of an imminent fall will let go of the ski pole or theactuator voluntarily and this action will cause the boot bindings toopen up preventing the accident (sic); another situation that may occuris the user releasing go of the ski pole or the actuator involuntarilyas a reflex act when falling, a course of events that will also resultin the opening of the boot bindings with the desirable outcome ofpreventing the accident (sic).

The figures described in the next section are intended as an aid tofacilitate a better understanding of the features of the presentspecification and are to be considered as an integrated part of itintended as illustrative and not limiting of the scope and object of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Shows a schematic view of a system for releasing ski orsnowboard boot binding elements and similar according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2. Shows a view of the special actuator that can be used in replaceof the ski pole represented in the previous FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. Shows s a schematic view of the user' hand wearing said specialactuator device.

FIG. 4. Shows the user's hand represented in previous FIG. 3 after theuser has released said special actuator device.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described following referringto the numbered parts shown in the drawings described in the previoussection.

The ski boot, snowboard and similar binding release system described inthis particular example of the invention is equipped with an electronictransmitter device 1 and with an electronic receiving device 5.

The electronic transmitter device 1 can be installed in the handle of astandard ski pole 2—as represented in FIG. 1—so the electronictransmitter device 1 detects the moment at which the user voluntarily orinvoluntarily lets go of the ski pole and this action triggers thetransmission of a control signal to the electronic receiving device 5commanding it to release open the ski boot bindings 6.

Also, the electronic transmitter device 1—as shown in FIG. 2—may beinstalled in a special actuator 3 instead of in the handle of the skipole 2 in such a manner that said special actuator 3 may be joined by acable, chain or similar to a wrist band or bracelet 4 that can be wornby the user as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to prevent the loss of electronictransmitter device 1 when the user releases the handgrip holding specialactuator 3. In this case, just as it was the case if the device wasinstalled in the handle of ski pole 2, when the user lets go voluntarilyor involuntarily of special actuator 3, the electronic transmitterdevice 1 sends a command to electronic receiving device 5 to releaseopen the bindings 6.

Communication between the electronic transmitter device 1 and theelectronic receiving device 5 is preferably done by means of radio orinfrared waves.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show respectively how the user's hand 7 grips and releasesspecial actuator 3.

This configuration as described allows the user to start practicing thechosen sport—after having activated the system—by holding in his or herhand the ski pole 2 or the special actuator 3 which keeps bindings 6securely closed. In case of accident the user will voluntarily orinvoluntarily as a reflex act let go of either device which will triggerthe transmission of the command to receiving device 5 which will effectthe opening of bindings 6 to release the user from the ski boot,snowboard or similar thus preventing injuries from occurring.

1. SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI OR SNOWBOARD BOOTS ANDSIMILAR applicable in elements required for the practice of these andsimilar sports such as ski pole handles (2) and boot bindings (6) of thecorresponding boards, characterized in that it is equipped with anelectronic transmitter device (1) having a detector for detecting therelease of a handgrip housed in a handheld object, as well as anelectronic receiving device (5) which is housed in the bindings (6) ofthe ski, snowboard or similar boots and that opens said bindings (6) inresponse to an order from issued by said electronic transmitting device(1), said order being generated when the aforementioned handheld objectis released.
 2. SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI ORSNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILAR according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid electronic transmitter device (1) and said electronic. receivingdevice (5) communicate by wireless means, preferably by radio orinfrared waves.
 3. SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI ORSNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILAR according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid handheld object consists of the handle of a ski pole (2).
 4. SYSTEMFOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI OR SNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILARaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said handheld objectconsists of a special actuator (3) shaped in a sort of main hand-grippedbody joined by means of a cable or similar to a fastening wrist band orbracelet (4); in such a way that allows a user to wear the fasteningwrist band or bracelet in his or her wrist and to grip the main bodywith his or her hand (7) without losing said main body in case ofreleasing it.